Laidlaw ready for third marathon

Laidlaw, son of the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions scrum-half, Roy Laidlaw, began 2021 with his first ever marathon and followed up with his second marathon at the end of February.

His plan, dubbed 12 in 12, is to complete a marathon each month this year to raise funds for three charities which mean a lot to him: the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation; Marie Curie; and Alzheimer’s Scotland.

Laidlaw said: “For the third marathon we’ll leave Meggetland at 9am on Sunday and head along the Union Canal to Ratho Marina before coming off and heading for Kirkliston and the Forth Road Bridge.

“We will head half-way across the bridge before turning and heading back following the same route.”

His team-mates from his days at Boroughmuir,fellow Scotland club internationalist Jordan Edmunds and Murray Johnstone will run the entire marathon while Edinburgh Rugby Academy manager, Graeme Beveridge, plans to run 30km. Once again, the group will follow coronavirus restrictions around social distancing.

Laidlaw added: “The weather forecast looks blustery so it will be a big challenge but I’m looking forward to it!

“We have now raised £8200 so I’m delighted with that after just two marathons.”

Laidlaw, who is a coach with Edinburgh Rugby’s Academy, had set an original fund-raising target of £3,000 but has already smashed that and his revised target of £8,000 has also been surpassed.

He is undertaking his epic challenge to thank the three charities, following his mum, Joy’s death through cancer, dad Roy’s diagnosis with dementia and support for his family from the Murrayfield Injured Players’ Foundation.

You can find out more about 12 in 12 and donate to support Laidlaw via his Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/12in12in21